Belt buckle cup holder

ABSTRACT

A belt buckle incorporating a collapsible cup holder, wherein the cup holder is hidden in the passive configuration, the belt buckle having a cover member that pivots downward to form a base to support a beverage container and a retainer that pivots up to retain the body of the beverage container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of belt buckles, and moreparticularly to the field of belt buckles having structure thataccomplishes a secondary function in addition to that of securing thebelt about the wearer.

Belt buckles that perform functions in addition to that of securing thebelt can be advantageous in that the utility of the device to the weareris doubled, and examples of such belt buckles are known in the art. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 1,578,468 to Rankin shows a combination beltbuckle and match box device, the buckle having a hinged cover thatswings down to reveal a compartment to receive matches and a striker.U.S. Pat. No. 1,625,040 to Marcus, U.S. Pat. No. 1,878,792 to Marinskyand U.S. Pat. No. 4,113,157 to Woodbury each show a combination beltbuckle and purse, the buckle having a hinged cover that opens to provideaccess to a compartment to receive coins or paper money. U.S. Pat. No.2,182,194 to Blau shows a combination belt buckle and watch, where thewatch is mounted to the interior of a hinged cover that is openeddownward to reveal the watch. U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,391 to Goodall shows acombination belt buckle and bottle opener for removing crimped caps frombottles, the slotted opener being incorporated in a hinged faceplate.

In many circumstances where beverages are being consumed from cans,bottles, cups or similar containers there is no suitable flat surface onwhich to safely and securely place the beverage container. This isparticularly true where the beverage consumption is occurring in avehicle. For these circumstances, various means to retain the beveragecontainer, typically referred to as cup holders, have been developed.For example, in most automobiles and other passenger vehicles cupholders shaped as cylindrical receptacles are provided in doors andcenter consoles to receive the beverage containers. Many times it isdesirable to construct the cup holders in a manner which allows them tobe collapsed into a smaller configuration, such that the cup holder canbe recessed to be less visually and physically obtrusive when the cupholder is not in use.

A common structure for a collapsing or foldable cup holder incorporatesa back plate member, a hinged cover that swings down to a positionperpendicular to the back plate member to form a base, and a set ofhinged arms that swing up to a perpendicular position above the base,such that the beverage container can be placed within the arms and atopthe base. Examples of such cup holder devices are shown in U.S. Pat. No.4,828,211 to McConnell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,722 to Moore, U.S.Pat. No. 5,072,909 to Huang, U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,508 to Isenga et al,U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,477 to Duestch, U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,082 to Vincentet al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,471 to Huang, and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 355,337to Eisenbraum et al. Some of the cup holder devices of these patents arefixedly mounted to the vehicle structure, while others provide fortemporary and removable mounting, such as by hooks or suction cups.

In other circumstances, the beverage consumer is standing or walking andthe beverage container must be continually held. It is known to providenon-collapsing cup holders that can be temporarily attached to theconsumer's belt using a clip or hook structure, thereby allowing forhands-free retention of the container. Examples of such devices areshown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,273 to Grant, U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,951 toJack, U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,017 to Connell (which does collapse forstorage after removal from the belt), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,616 toGagne. Drawbacks and problems associated with these devices include thefacts that the cup holder is an independent accessory that must be athand when the need for its use arises and that the cup holder may beeasily dislodged, resulting in a spilled beverage. Many of the body-worncup holders are not collapsible and therefore must be held by the useror must be worn when empty.

It is an object of this invention to provide a belt that incorporates acup holder device, such that the device is worn by the consumer ratherthan being a hand-held and independent accessory that must be rememberedby the user. It is a further object to provide such a device whereby thecup holder is securely retained on the body of the wearer, such thataccidental spillage of the beverage container is reduced. It is afurther object to provide such a device wherein the cup holder mechanismis collapsible and directly incorporated in the belt buckle, such thatin the non-use, closed configuration the cup holder is hidden and only adecorative belt buckle is visible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a combination belt buckle and cup holder device,wherein the cup holder mechanism is incorporated in the buckle in amanner whereby the cup holder is hidden when not in use, the cup holdermechanism being collapsible. The belt buckle is attached to a belt andcomprises a back member, a hinged cover member and a hinged beverageretainer means. The back member is attached to a first belt end in knownmanner such that the free second belt end can be secured to or thoughthe buckle and about the wearer's waist in known manner. The covermember swings down to a generally horizontal position and the beverageretainer means, such as a pair of curved arms with an open front, swingsup to a generally horizontal position, such that a beverage containercan be positioned atop the interior of the cover member andsimultaneously secured by the beverage retainer means. After use, theretainer means is folded against the back member and the cover member isfolded to cover the retainer means, there being a means to retain thecover member in relation to the back member. The face o router surfaceof the cover member may be provided with decorative elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the belt buckle invention in the closedconfiguration.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention in the open or in-useconfiguration.

FIG. 3 is a side of the invention shown not attached to a belt forclarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, the invention will now be described indetail with regard for the best mode and the preferred embodiment. Ingeneral, the invention is a belt buckle incorporating a cup holder, thecup holder mechanism being collapsible such that it can be folded into apassive hidden configuration. For purposes of this disclosure, the termcup holder shall be taken as defining a device for retaining anopen-topped or open beverage container in an upright position, where theterm beverage container shall be taken as defining a generallycylindrical or slightly tapered cup, glass, can, bottle or similarliquid containing receptacle.

Belt buckle 10 is securely attached to a first end 92 of belt 91 by anysuitable buckle attachment means 20, which may for example comprise aclamping mechanism well known in the art (not shown) or a generallyC-shaped bar member 21 mounted to the rear of the buckle 10, a portionof the bar member 21 being retained within a closed loop 94 defining thefirst belt end 92, also a commonly known assembly and shown in thedrawings. Typically, the bar member 21 extends from the rear of the beltbuckle back member 11 sufficient distance to allow the free second end93 of the belt 91 to be passed therethrough when the belt 91 is worn andfastened. Various means for securing the belt second end 93 about thewaist of the wearer are known in the art and may be utilized. As shownin the drawings, one such means is simply a short belt hook orprojection 16 that extends from the rear of the back member 11 to bereceived within the proper belt hole 95. Alternatively for example, thebelt second end 93 may comprise a ring or loop that is secured on a hookmember attached to the side of the buckle 10 (not shown), or vice versa.

The belt buckle 10 comprises in general cup holding means comprising aback member 11, a cover member 12 and a beverage container retainermeans 20. The back member 11 is a relatively rigid panel, plate, case orsimilar body that resides relatively flat against the belt 91 ingenerally parallel manner when the belt 91 is being worn. The backmember 1 as shown in the drawings is generally rectangular inconfiguration, but non-rectangular configurations are well within thescope of the invention. Attached to a lower portion or the bottom of theback member 11 is a pivoting cover member 12, the cover member 12 beingjoined to the back member 11 by cover pivot means 30 whereby the covermember 12 can be pivoted from a passive position generally parallel tothe back member 11 down to a generally horizontal active positiongenerally perpendicular to the back member 11. The cover member 12comprises an external face 17, which may be provided with decorativeelements 18, and an interior surface 19 that serves a base to receiveand support the bottom of a beverage container. Preferably the interiorsurface 19 is relatively flat and/or provided with beverage containerretaining features such as ridges, shoulders or the like. Means toreleasably secure the cover member 12 to the back member 11 during thepassive configuration are provided, and may comprise a friction fitbetween the components, mechanical interlocking, clasp mechanisms or anyother suitable and equivalent construct.

The cover pivot means 30 may comprise a pair of ear members 31 disposedlaterally on the lower portion of bottom of the back member 11, the ears31 receiving pin members 32 extending from or passing through the lowerportion or bottom of the cover member 12. The cover member 12 may besized so as to extend beyond and encompass the perimeter of the backmember 11, as shown in the drawings, equal the perimeter of the backmember 11, or be smaller than the perimeter of the back member 11. Thecover member 12 may be provided with a peripheral flange member 22 tobetter secure the beverage container by limiting lateral movement of thebottom of the beverage container.

The beverage container retainer means 13 is pivotally attached to theupper portion or top of the back member 11 in a hinged manner byretainer pivot means 40 such that the beverage container retainer means13 can be pivoted from a passive position generally parallel to saidback member 11 up into a generally horizontal active positionperpendicular to the back member 11 and generally parallel to the covermember 12 in the active position. In the passive configuration, thebeverage container retainer means 13 resides adjacent the back member 11and between the back member 11 and the cover member 12, with the covermember 12 visually hiding or concealing the beverage container retainermeans 13. Retainer pivot means 40 may comprise a pair of ear members 41disposed laterally on the upper portion or top of the back member 11,the ears 41 receiving pin members 42 extending from or passing throughthe upper portion or top of the beverage container retainer means 30.The retainer means 30 may comprise a pair of opposing curved arm members14, as shown, a ring member or alternative configurations that arecapable of retaining and securing the beverage container in a mannerwhereby removal and insertion of the beverage container to and from thebelt buckle 10 is readily accomplished. The arm members 14 may be fixedor adjustable in terms of shape and separation distance.

Collapsible cup holder assemblies having alternative or varyingstructures to the structures particularly described above are well knownin the art and are represented by the example devices in U.S. Pat. No.4,828,211 to McConnell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,722 to Moore, U.S.Pat. No. 5,072,909 to Huang, U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,508 to Isenga et al,U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,477 to Duestch, U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,082 to Vincentet al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,471 to Huang, and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 355,337to Eisenbraum et al., the disclosures of which are expresslyincorporated herein for the purposes of disclosing suitable foldingmechanisms.

In the passive configuration, the invention presents the look of aconventional belt buckle, with the face 17 and any decorative elements18 being presented outwardly to the viewer. When the cup holderfunctionality of the device is needed, the cover member 12 is firstflipped downward away from the back member 11 and into the generallyhorizontal position. The beverage container retainer means 13, nowexposed, is then flipped upward away from the back member 11 and intothe generally horizontal position generally parallel to the interiorsurface 19 of the cover member 12. The retainer means 13 is positionedso as to reside a short distance above the cover member 12, such thatthe body of the beverage container is precluded from excessive lateralmovement. Most preferably, the retainer means 13 and the cover member 12are mounted onto the back member 11 so as to be separated as far aspossible. Friction means, springs or other biasing means, or othermechanical constructs may be utilized to temporarily retain the covermember 12 and the beverage container retainer means in the activepositions.

It is understood and contemplated that equivalents and substitutions forelements set forth above may be obvious to those skilled in the art, andtherefore the true scope and definition of the invention is to be as setforth in the following claims.

1. A belt buckle comprising collapsible cup holder means, said cupholder means comprising a back member, a cover member and beveragecontainer retainer means.
 2. The belt buckle of claim 1, wherein saidcover member is pivotally attached to said back member and said beveragecontainer retainer means is pivotally attached to said back member. 3.The belt buckle of claim 2, wherein said cover member is attached to alower portion of said back member and said beverage container retainermeans is attached to an upper portion.
 4. The belt buckle of claim 2,wherein said cover member pivots from a passive position generallyparallel to said back member to an active position generallyperpendicular to said back member, and wherein said beverage containerretainer means pivots from a passive position generally parallel to saidback member to an active position generally perpendicular to said backmember.
 5. The belt buckle of claim 4, wherein said beverage containerretainer means is disposed between said back member and said covermember when said beverage container retainer means and said cover memberare disposed in said passive position.
 6. The belt buckle of claim 5,wherein said cover member conceals said beverage container retainermember and said back member when said beverage container retainer meansand said cover member are disposed in said passive position.
 7. The beltbuckle of claim 1, wherein said beverage container retainer meanscomprises a pair of arm members.
 8. The belt buckle of claim 2, whereinsaid beverage container retainer means comprises a pair of arm members.9. The belt buckle of claim 1, wherein said cover member comprises aninterior surface and a peripheral flange member surrounding saidinterior surface.
 10. A belt buckle in combination with a belt, saidbelt comprising a first end and a second end; said belt bucklecomprising buckle attachment means for securing said belt buckle to saidfirst end of said belt and collapsible cup holder means; said cup holdermeans comprising a back member, a cover member and beverage containerretainer means.
 11. The combination of claim 10, wherein said covermember is pivotally attached to said back member and said beveragecontainer retainer means is pivotally attached to said back member. 12.The combination of claim 11, wherein said cover member is attached to alower portion of said back member and said beverage container retainermeans is attached to an upper portion.
 13. The combination of claim 11,wherein said cover member pivots from a passive position generallyparallel to said back member to an active position generallyperpendicular to said back member, and wherein said beverage containerretainer means pivots from a passive position generally parallel to saidback member to an active position generally perpendicular to said backmember.
 14. The combination of claim 13, wherein said beverage containerretainer means is disposed between said back member and said covermember when said beverage container retainer means and said cover memberare disposed in said passive position.
 15. The combination of claim 14,wherein said cover member conceals said beverage container retainermember and said back member when said beverage container retainer meansand said cover member are disposed in said passive position.
 16. Thecombination of claim 10, wherein said belt buckle further comprisesmeans to secure said second end of said belt.
 17. A belt bucklecomprising collapsible cup holder means, said cup holder meanscomprising a back member, a cover member and beverage container retainermeans; wherein said cover member is pivotally attached to a lowerportion of said back member and said beverage container retainer meansis pivotally attached to an upper portion said back member; wherein saidcover member pivots from a passive position generally parallel to saidback member to an active position generally perpendicular to said backmember, and wherein said beverage container retainer means pivots from apassive position generally parallel to said back member to an activeposition generally perpendicular to said back member; wherein saidbeverage container retainer means is disposed between said back memberand said cover member when said beverage container retainer means andsaid cover member are disposed in said passive position; and whereinsaid cover member conceals said beverage container retainer member andsaid back member when said beverage container retainer means and saidcover member are disposed in said passive position.
 18. The belt buckleof claim 17, wherein said beverage container retainer means comprises apair of arm members.
 19. The belt buckle of claim 17, wherein said covermember comprises an interior surface and a peripheral flange membersurrounding said interior surface.
 20. The belt buckle of claim 17,further comprising buckle attachment means for securing said belt buckleto a belt.